Terry J. Ward

The world became brighter on May 23, 1937, the day Terry Joe Ward was born in Saginaw, Michigan to Harold and Arlene (Schnetzler) Ward. Terry was one of eleven children. Terry passed quietly on April 6, 2024 after a long and happy life.

Terry moved to Stockbridge, Michigan in 1952, where he met the love of his life of 67 years, Phyllis Wilde Ward. Terry was very involved in the Stockbridge community, where they raised their four children. Terry retired after a long career with Michigan Bell Telephone. He and Phyllis loved to travel and spent many winters in Arizona. He was an outstanding athlete and an avid sports fan (Go Blue). Everyone who knew Terry, knew he had quite the sense of humor, and he was extremely competitive. His competitive spirit flourished as he enjoyed golf and all outdoor sports and activities. He especially loved playing cards and board games with family and friends.

Terry is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis, sisters, Joan Bumpus and Mary Curtis, his children, Doug (Barbel), Daniel (Robin), Lisa Seiferth (Kurt), and Terry (Sherry); ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Terry will be remembered for his loving, kind, and compassionate nature, and his complete love and devotion to his family. Terry was the best husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he will be missed by his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Mackinder-Glenn American Legion Post 510, 830 S. Clinton Street, Stockbridge, MI.

Expression of sympathy may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Mary "Dorene" White

Mary “Dorene” White, of Stockbridge, MI, age 101, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2024. She was born November 11, 1922 in Stockbridge, MI, the middle child of Caspar and Ethel Glenn.

Dorene graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1940. She then attended Michigan State Normal College (now EMU) and Lansing Secretarial School.

She married Curtis W. White on October 10, 1942. After WWII, they settled back in Stockbridge and raised four children. In addition to her beloved family, she had many interests. Dorene was always active in the schools, church, and community. She was the first recipient of the Volunteer of the Year community award in 1999, and she was also a founding member of the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation. Dorene actively participated in area art guilds, garden clubs, and community theater and music groups. She joined the First Presbyterian Church in Stockbridge in 1931 and served in many capacities throughout her life. She especially enjoyed watercolor painting, collecting flower frogs and Stockbridge history, and traveling.

Dorene is survived by her children, Richard (Melissa Barnard) White of Midland, Sally (Bill) Layton of Colorado Springs, and Barbara VanDyke of Mason; grandchildren: Brian (Michelle) White, Mary “Betsey” (Matthew) Pohl, Elise Layton (Richard Krautheim), Emily (Elliott) Bauder, Samuel VanDyke, Mason VanDyke, Lara (Daniel) Jacobs, Alyssa (Eric) Ward, and Noah (Evelyn) Lofquist; great-grandchildren: Keaton, Kennan, and Evie Jacobs, Henry and Isaac Tallon, Caidra VanDyke, and Ethan and Maddie Lofquist, Chloe (Bryan) Hover, Jacob (Marissa Edwards) Beasley, Nicholas Beasley, and Macy (Luke) Pohl-Kohnen, Audrey Krautheim, and Katelyn, Maxton, Beau, and Luke Bauder; great-great-grandchildren, Ella and Tanner Hover; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dorene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Curt, a son, Larry White, her siblings: Robert Glenn, William “Billy” Glenn, David Glenn, and Gene M. Barton; daughter-in-law, Amilyn White, son-in-law, Steven VanDyke, as well as sisters-in-law, Peggy Glenn, Mary White, and Jean White; and brothers-in-law, Jim Barton, Al White, and Willard “Bob” White.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 4-7 p.m. at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home in Stockbridge.

A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Stockbridge on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., where the family will also receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.

A private burial will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in honor of Dorene may do so to the Stockbridge Educational Foundation, the First Presbyterian Church of Stockbridge, or Stockbridge Community Outreach.

John L. Decker

John L. Decker, age 78, of Grass Lake, MI, passed away April 6, 2024 at Michigan Medicine Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. John was born on July 21, 1945 in Menomonie, WI, the son of Lawrence and Doris (Scapple) Decker.

John moved to the Grass Lake area in 2016. He held a distinguished career, working for Steeltech in Grand Rapids, MI from 1994-2016, retiring as Vice President of Operations. He married Kathryn A. (McIntosh) on December 28, 1968, and she survives him. Also surviving are two children, Bradley (Corey) Decker of Chelsea and Matthew (Joy) Decker of Chicago; two grandsons, Calvin and Blake; his siblings: Robert “Joe” (Julie) Decker of Wild Rose, WI, Pamela (Wayne) Connors of St. George, UT, and Mariann (David) Belknap of Oshkosh, WI; sister-in-law, Linda Kaminski of Colorado Springs, CO, and brother-in-law, Michael (Sue) McIntosh of Waukesha, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Doris Decker, a brother, Dana Decker, sister-in-law, Denise “Neice” McIntosh, and brother-in-law, Roger Kaminski.

John's passions were as diverse as they were vibrant. He found solace and joy in pen and ink drawing, the green fairways of the golf course, and the rich narratives of historical books, particularly those centered on the Civil War. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea. His favorite sports teams included the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Bucks and the Brewers. He found joy in music and dancing, and he relished watching sporting events of his grandsons, sharing in the excitement with family and friends. He cherished spending time with his family, and he found immense joy in spreading Santa's cheer during the holidays.

John will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, as well as at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea, with Pastor Kurt Hutchens officiating. A luncheon will follow at Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea. Burial will take place at West Lawn Memorial Park in Racine, WI.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith in Action, Chelsea. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Donald R. Day

Donald Russell Day, age 89, of Munith, MI, passed away on April 3, 2024. He was born on August 6, 1934, in Muscatine, IA, to Harold Russell Day and Lela Viola Brase Day.

He attended Muscatine grade schools and Muscatine High School, graduating in 1952. Don pursued higher education at the Indiana Institute of Technology and subsequently held employment in Ft. Wayne in the engineering field as senior designer. In 1964, he was hired at Sparton Electronics in Jackson MI, where he met the love of his life, as he liked to say, Miss Diana Parker. They married in 1965.

Don later worked for Aeroquip, Commonwealth Associates, and Consumers Energy in Jackson, and in 1996 retired from Consumers Energy as senior technical analyst at their Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert, MI. After retiring, he worked part time for several years at Applewood Landscaping in Jackson, doing estimating and sometimes assisting on the jobs he estimated, an outdoor job which he enjoyed immensely.

Don was a gifted handyman doing most of the finish work, including electrical, plumbing, and dry walling, on their home built on family farm property in rural Munith. He then built a pole barn and fenced in a large field for a horse pasture. He loved raising and riding horses, and mentoring kids with horses, for many years. He was a local 4-H leader in Horsemanship and volunteered on the Jackson Country 4-H Council for many years, was 4-H Horse Superintendent at the County Fairs, and judged horse shows. Don was also a gifted woodcarver, carving many beautiful pieces of wooden art. He showed his work in local and state woodcarving shows, receiving several awards. He was a member of local and state woodcarving clubs, and he loved mentoring both adults and kids who were interested in woodcarving. Don also enjoyed golfing and watching golf tournaments, and he read a lot of books, including his Bible every morning.

Don was a kind and loving family man, who would help anyone who needed it. He was very much loved by his family and friends. A devout man, he was a dedicated member of Christ Lutheran Church in Michigan Center, MI for over 50 years.

Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Diana; three daughters, Gayle Popa, Jayne Keith, and Lynda West; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Jerry Day and Thomas Day, and sisters, Janet Herring and Doris Snyder. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Russell Day, mother Lela Viola Day, and brother, Larry Day.

A Memorial service in honor of Don will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at Christ Lutheran Church, 4250 Page Ave, Michigan Center, MI. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held in Christ Lutheran's Community Center after the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Christ Lutheran Church, or ELCA World Hunger, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home Stockbridge, MI.

Ann Antoinette Carter

Our dear mother Ann Antoinette Carter (Staeck) of Chelsea, MI, sadly passed away on April 4, 2024 at the age of 86. She was a devoted wife and a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was always there when we needed her.

She was predeceased in death by her infant daughter, Robin Marie Carter, and is survived by her husband of 64 years, Roy, her daughters, Kelly Fisher ( Matthew), Jill Carter, Kim Koenn (Matthew); grandchildren, Charles (Lauren) Fisher, Kevin (Danielle) Fisher, Ryan Koenn, and great-grandchildren, Greycen, Colby and Maizy Fisher.

Prior to retirement, Ann and Roy owned Lakeland Resort in Aurora, KY. Ann was a fabulous cook, hosting many family dinner. An author once wrote of her delicious golumpki in one of his novels. Ann enjoyed designing and crafting beaded jewelry. She liked her word and puzzle games and an occasional visit to the casino. Ann was an avid fan of the Kentucky Wildcats Basketball team.

A private ceremony with close family members will be scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Trump re-election campaign.

Kari Jean Heinitz

Kari Jean Heinitz of Gregory, Michigan passed away at the Chelsea Hospital on April 1, 2024 at the age of 74. She was born the daughter of William and Hila (Champlin) Buettner on February 10, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan.

 On November 17, 1973 in Detroit, MI she married Bradley D. Heinitz and he survives. Kari enjoyed sewing, was an avid quilter and made many of them for friends and family. 

She enjoyed reading and cooking. She was known for her meatloaf surprise. Brad was almost always the recipient of the “surprise”. In her younger days, she enjoyed swimming and water skiing.

Most of all she was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and gramma. In addition to her husband Brad, she is survived by her children Andrea (Tony) Doremire, Bradley Andrew Heinitz, and Ashley (Edward) Buczkowski. 

Also surviving are her grandchildren Gavin, Karina, Easton and Kasen, her sister Kathy (Donald) McDevitt and her loving nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a granddaughter Jayli and her sister Diana Jox.

The family will receive friends at the Caskey Mitchell Funeral Home on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral service will be Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Crossroads Community Church at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Josh Lilly officiating. A private burial will take place at Columbia Township Cemetery in Unionville, Michigan. Expressions of sympathy may be made to The Gift of Life Michigan.

Phillip A. Salopek Sr.

Phillip A. Salopek Sr., of Chelsea, MI, formerly of Grass Lake, MI, Laurel, MD, and Battle Creek, MI, age 76, passed away from complications of frontotemporal dementia on Monday, March 25, 2024 at the Chelsea Retirement Community-Towsley Village.

He was born December 9, 1947 in Battle Creek, MI, the son of Antony and Eleanor (Huff) Salopek. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen (Sherwood) Salopek, and is survived by two children, Maureen Noble of Ann Arbor, MI, and Phillip (Cindy) Salopek Jr. of Clarksville, MD; four grandchildren: Scott (Taylor) Salopek, Erica Noble, Russell Noble, and Caroline Salopek; one great-grandson, Sutton Salopek; sister, Kathryn (Abe) Villalobos of AZ; and brothers/sisters-in-law: Rebecca Green of Battle Creek, MI, Lisa (Michael) Pessetti of Hastings, MI, Kevin (Ludasha) Sherwood of FL, Matthew (Patty) Sherwood of IN, and Amy (Jim) Lewis of OK.

Phil had lived in the Chelsea and Grass Lake areas for the past fifteen years, moving from Maryland after retirement. He spent his childhood years in Battle Creek and was a graduate of the St. Philip High School Class of 1965. Phil was also a proud Kalamazoo College Alumni and student athlete, where he earned all-conference honors in 1967 as catcher of the baseball team. He received his Master’s degree in Sociology from Michigan State University, and retired as a Branch Chief after a distinguished 30-year career with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Phil was most recently a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea. In retirement, he embraced the raising and training of Portuguese Water Dog and Havanese show dogs. He was a lifelong athlete, who became an avid golfer, and cherished the opportunities to watch his grandchildren perform in their sports activities. Phil was a devoted husband, loving father, and doting Poppa, and enjoyed annual trips to the Outer Banks, NC with his family. He will be fondly remembered for his warm and easy demeanor, his infectious smile, his steadfastness, and his wonderful sense of humor, and he was deeply loved by all who had the honor to know him.

Christian Service and Burial will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 10:30 a.m. Memorial contributions in Phil’s memory may be made to The Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration or the UMRC Porter Hills Foundation (foundation.mybrio.org). Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Arlene J. Koker

Arlene (Kaiser) Koker, age 79, passed away surrounded by her family on March 25, 2024 at the Courtyard Manor Nursing Home in Howell, Michigan.

She was born September 3, 1944 in Detroit, MI to Norman "Jack" and Wilma (Scheppe) Kaiser. On January 4, 1964, she married the love of her life and devoted caregiver, Richard Koker, and they enjoyed 60 years together. She is survived by her husband, Richard, her children, David (Wendy) Koker, and Daniel (Angela Christiansen) Koker, and the apple of her eye, granddaughter, Taia Koker. She is also survived by her brother, Ronald (Arlene) Kaiser, as well as nieces, Tracy, Jennifer, and Michelle, and their families. The family would also like to thank her very special friends, Glenn and Hilda Buckmaster, for their continued love and support. She also enjoyed her extended Koker family, Marion (Frank) May, John (Nancy) Koker, Jerry (Bettsey Spink), Karen (Larry) Kurzynowski, Mike (Rachel) Koker, and Stephanie (Tom) Heyden.

She was predeceased by her parents, and her father- and mother-in-law, John and Helen Koker. Her family was the joy of her life, and we are grateful for the memories that were built together. May they carry us through the days ahead.

Arlene especially enjoyed traveling and making beautiful jewelry. She began her working career as a very skilled cosmetologist. However, Sales Consulting was in her blood. She worked for many years in the Furniture Department of JC Penney at Briarwood in Ann Arbor. Always looking for new adventures, she found her real love as an extremely successful real estate agent. Arlene retired from Reinhart Realty.

The family would like to thank Courtyard Manor Nursing Home and Careline Hospice for their exceptional care and support. According to her wishes, Arlene has chosen cremation.

Visitation will be at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge, Michigan, on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at the Richard F. Smith American Legion Post 29, 3200 Lansing Ave., Jackson, MI, with a visitation one hour prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. Funeral service to be celebrated by her niece, Pastor Tracy Collier. A luncheon will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Waterloo Farm Museum.

Bob Brill

Bob Brill 1930 - 2024

Bob Brill died at home on February 24, 2024. Bob is survived by his wife Laura Hayes, his son Jeff Brill and wife Emma and their children Shoshana, Flora, and David.

Bob was born on December 31, 1930 In New City to Carolyn and Arthur Brill. Bob wrote his first poems and stories at about the age of six or seven. He sold his very first one for fifty cents to one of his dad’s friends and the guy made off with the only copy.

After graduation from college he knocked around Europe, wrote a novel, came back broke and became a computer programmer to support his habit of eating every day. Wondering why the novel hadn’t sold, he reread it, decided to call it a practice novel and relegated it to the landfill

He married and supported his family as a programmer while devoting his spare me to writing, playing the guitar and composing chess problems. Eventually he married again, and upon retirement he wrote several graphics programs and developed skills as an algorithmic artist. He produced a huge portfolio of math-based artwork, but in late 2003 he set all that aside to focus on achieving his lifelong ambition to be a writer. For nearly 30 years he devoted his energies to writing fiction and poetry. His novellas, short stories and around 150 poems have appeared in over forty online magazines, print journals, and anthologies.

Occasionally, he was asked how he got his ideas.

‟Early in the morning, before breakfast or any other activities, I open my journal and start writing without any thoughts or topics in mind. I just keep the pen flowing to let my unconscious mind spout whatever wants to come out. No worries about grammar, spelling, editing or even making sense. A lot of garbage comes pouring out, but often I find jewels floating in the barf. Later I work these up into poems or stories.

Writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it is extremely rewarding. I don’t write for fame or money. I just like doing it. I get pleasure when I write something I think is good. I also like it when other people enjoy my work, so I have to admit there is an element of vanity in it, but it’s the day to day joy of doing the work that sustains me.

My development as a writer has been characterized by an effort to find my own voice and for me that requires more freedom, fewer rules. I began to feel constrained by the conventionally accepted rules of fiction writing as well as tightly structured poetic forms. I started writing more free verse poetry which is less rule bound than rhymed and strictly metered poetry. I’m very fond of haiku, senryu and tanka, where the tight constraints of those forms taught me how to be concise and shine a narrow concentrated light on a single moment, a lesson that carries over into longer works. Ultimately I needed to break out into longer poems to express more complex ideas.” Hello Goodbye, Selected poems by Bob Brill was published in 2016.

Ricky D. Salisbury

Ricky D. Salisbury, of Jackson, MI, passed away on March 21, 2024 at his home. He was born the son of Hargus and Juanita (Vanderpool) Salisbury on September 23, 1956 in Garrett, Kentucky.  On December 26, 1980 he married Teresa Ann Dyer, and she survives.  

Ricky loved University of Michigan football. He was an avid gardener, loved his dogs, Jack and Oscar, and loved his grandchildren. Faith, family, and friends were most important to Ricky, and he loved being a girl dad.

In addition to his wife, Teresa, he is survived by his girls, Angie (Ben personal handyman) Thomas, Nick Salisbury (granddog Rue),  and Stephanie Salisbury. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Brenna, Camren, Devin, Deacon, and Brandon; siblings, Peggy Honaker, Toby Salisbury, Richie Salisbury and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and church friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Rick Salisbury Jr., and brother, Dickie Salisbury.

The family will receive friends at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Monday, March 25, 2024 from 4-8 p.m.

A funeral service will take place at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.  Burial will take place at Fitchburg Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Rebel Dogs Detroit Animal Rescue.